The Citizen's Action group (CAG) is Mumbai's somewhat half-hearted answer to Bangalore Action Task Force (BATF), the hugely popular public-private partnership project that was to transform Bangalore into a world-class city. The CAG has been set up to drive the 'Vision Mumbai 2013' project that conjures a similar dream for India's moribund financial capital. Headed by Maharashtra's chief minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, CAG comprises 30 high-profile Mumbai citizens who would come up with recommendations for developing the city, monitor the progress of projects, and help get private investment to fund the project.

It has barely been a month since BATF went into a limbo, facing political neglect. Then, how does the Mumbai project ensure continuity if a new CM comes on board? "By forming a department in the government and putting a secretary responsible for it, the government appears to be committed to saving the city," says Sanjay Ubale, secretary special projects, the government of Maharashtra. This means that no matter who becomes the new CM, the project will go on.

The first report on the project was prepared last year. On the basis of the report the state government put in place a taskforce, divided into six sub-groups, to comeup with a blueprint for development and also appointed a specialsecretary to oversee the project. By February 2004, the task force came up with its recommendations, some of which have already been implemented.

CAG's first meeting on 23 July brought out mixed reactions from members. "I have been on 20 such committees over the last 20 years and nothing has come out of them," said ad man Alyque Padamsee, a member of the CAG. "Maybe the 21st will be different," assured an enthusiastic Anand Mahindra, another CAG constituent. The CAG plans to meet every three months to review the progress of projects.

Despite the optimism, the spectre of political indifference looms large over Mumbai's ambitious bid to swank itself. Consider the CM's parting shot at the CAG meeting: "The plane is on the runway, and I can see that it is going to take off soon, but don't ask me who the pilot is." Not very reassuring for a start, is it?